Bench and planter combination

Abstract

A kit for a planter is disclosed that has a polygon shape and has a selected number of sides and a same selected number of corners. The kit includes a selected number of bottom corner brackets, a selected number of corner beads, a selected number of top corner brackets, a selected number of top frame corner brackets, and a selected number of pairs of spacer runners that each correspond to the selected number of corners. The kit also includes a planter tub sized to fit within a planter body. The brackets and spacer runners are configured to be connected together to form a skeleton to which boards can be attached to form the planter body.

I claim: 
     
       1. A kit for a planter having a polygon shape having a selected number of sides and a same selected number of corners comprising:
 a selected number of bottom corner brackets corresponding to the selected number of corners, the bottom corner brackets configured to receive an end of each of a pair of boards; 
 a selected number of corner beads corresponding to the selected number of corners, the corner beads configured to receive a pair of adjacent boards; 
 a selected number of top corner brackets corresponding to the selected number of corners, the top corner brackets configured to receive an end of each of a pair of boards; 
 a selected number of top frame corner brackets corresponding to the selected number of corners, the top frame corner brackets configured to receive an end of each of a plurality of boards; and 
 a selected number of pairs of spacer runners corresponding to the selected number of corners, each of the pairs of spacer runners configured to receive opposing ends of each of a plurality of boards; and 
 wherein the bottom corner brackets, corner beads, top corner brackets, top frame corner brackets, and spacer runners are configured to be connected together to form a skeleton to which boards can be attached to form a first planter body; and 
 a planter tub sized to fit within the first planter body. 
 
     
     
       2. The kit of  claim 1  wherein the selected number of sides of the planter is three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, or ten. 
     
     
       3. The kit of  claim 1  wherein each of the top frame corner brackets comprises a two tiered structure such that the top frame corner brackets are configured to receive an end of each of two pairs of boards, one pair of boards above and adjacent to the other. 
     
     
       4. The kit of  claim 1  wherein each of the top corner brackets comprise a tub holding structure such that the tub holding structure supports a lip of the planter tub and engages a corner of the planter tub. 
     
     
       5. The kit of  claim 1  wherein each of the bottom corner brackets comprise a base structure such that the base structure engages one corner bead and a pair of boards engaged with that corner bead. 
     
     
       6. The kit of  claim 1  wherein the bottom corner brackets, the top corner brackets, and the top frame corner brackets are each a casting, wherein the casting is formed from metal, plastic, or fiberglass. 
     
     
       7. The kit of  claim 1  wherein the bottom corner brackets and the top corner brackets each comprise a first portion and a second portion, and wherein the first portion or the second portion is a casting, and wherein each of the top frame corner brackets comprise a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, and wherein the first portion, the second portion, or the third portion of each of the top frame corner brackets is a casting. 
     
     
       8. The kit of  claim 1  wherein the bottom corner brackets and the top corner brackets each comprise a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is formed by sheet metal and the second portion is formed by a casting and wherein the top frame corner brackets each comprise a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, and wherein the first portion of each of the top frame corner brackets is formed by sheet metal and at least one of the second portion and the third portion of each of the top frame corner brackets is formed by a casting. 
     
     
       9. The kit of  claim 1  wherein the bottom corner brackets, the top corner brackets, and the top frame corner brackets each comprise at least one cover portion being sized and configured such that a cut end of a board that is placed adjacent to the at least one cover portion is hidden from outward view by the at least one cover portion. 
     
     
       10. The kit of  claim 9  wherein the at least one cover portion is formed from a casting. 
     
     
       11. The kit of  claim 1  wherein each of the corner beads is an extrusion. 
     
     
       12. The kit of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a second selected number of bottom corner brackets corresponding to a second selected number of corners, the second selected number of bottom corner brackets configured to receive an end of each of a pair of boards; 
 a second selected number of corner beads corresponding to the second selected number of corners, the second selected number of corner beads configured to receive a pair of adjacent boards; 
 a second selected number of top corner brackets corresponding to the second selected number of corners, the second selected number of top corner brackets configured to receive an end of each of a pair of boards; 
 a second elected number of top frame corner brackets corresponding to the selected number of corners, the second elected number of top frame corner brackets configured to receive an end of each of a pair of boards; and 
 a second selected number of pairs of spacer runners corresponding to the selected number of corners, the second selected number of pairs of spacer runners configured to receive an end of each of a plurality of boards; and 
 wherein the second selected number of bottom corner brackets, second selected number of corner beads, second selected number of top corner brackets, second selected number of top frame corner brackets, and second selected number of pairs of spacer runners are configured to be connected together to form a second skeleton to which boards can be attached to form a second planter body; and 
 a second planter tub sized to fit within the second planter body. 
 
     
     
       13. The kit of  claim 12  further comprising:
 a pair of end plates; 
 a pair of front corner bead supports; and 
 at least one a pair of mounting brackets that is sized and configured to attach to the first planter body and the second planter body; 
 wherein the front corner bead supports attach to the end plates to form a first bench substructure having two ends; and 
 wherein the end plates are configured to engage the at least one pair of mounting brackets when the at least one pair of mounting brackets are attached to the first planter body and the second planter body such that the first bench substructure is supported on one end by the first planter body and on the other end by the second planter body. 
 
     
     
       14. The kit of  claim 13  further comprising at least one pair of corner braces and a bench center bracket, wherein each of the at least one pair of corner braces is attached at an end of each the front corner bead supports and is also attached to the end plate that is attached to those ends of the front corner bead supports. 
     
     
       15. The kit of  claim 13  wherein the front corner bead supports are each an aluminum extrusion. 
     
     
       16. The kit of  claim 13  wherein each of the front corner bead supports comprise a longitudinal ridge such that the longitudinal ridge of each corner bead support supports an end of a plurality of boards that are laid side by side. 
     
     
       17. The kit of  claim 13  wherein each of the pair of front corner bead supports has an outside surface having a longitudinal cavity defined therein such that a board may fit within the longitudinal cavity. 
     
     
       18. The kit of  claim 13  wherein the at least one pair of mounting brackets comprises a pair of mounting brackets, wherein one of the pair of mounting brackets is attached to the first planter body and the other mounting bracket is attached to the second planter body. 
     
     
       19. The kit of  claim 13  wherein the end plates comprise at least one notch and the at least one notch is configured to slideably engage the at least one pair of mounting brackets when the at least one pair of mounting brackets are attached to the first planter body and the second planter body. 
     
     
       20. The kit of  claim 13  further comprising:
 a third selected number of bottom corner brackets corresponding to the selected number of corners, the third selected number of bottom corner brackets configured to receive an end of each of a pair of boards; 
 a third selected number of corner beads corresponding to the selected number of corners, the third selected number of corner beads configured to receive a pair of adjacent boards; 
 a third selected number of top corner brackets corresponding to the selected number of corners, the third selected number of top corner brackets configured to receive an end of each of a pair of boards; 
 a third selected number of top frame corner brackets corresponding to the selected number of corners, the third selected number of top frame corner brackets configured to receive an end of each of a plurality of boards; and 
 a third selected number of pairs of spacer runners corresponding to the selected number of corners, the third selected number of pairs of spacer runners configured to receive an end of each of a plurality of boards; 
 wherein the third selected number of bottom corner brackets, corner beads, top corner brackets, top frame corner brackets, and pairs of spacer runners are configured to be connected together to form a skeleton to which boards can be attached to form a third planter body; 
 a second planter tub sized to fit within the third planter body; 
 a second pair of end plates; 
 a second pair of front corner bead supports; 
 at least one second pair of mounting brackets that are sized and configured to attach to the second planter body and the third planter body; and 
 wherein each of the second pair of front corner bead supports attach to each of the second pair end plates to form a second bench substructure having two ends; and 
 wherein each of the second pair of end plates are configured to engage the at least one second pair of mounting brackets when the at least one second pair of mounting brackets are attached to the second planter body and the third planter body such that the second bench substructure is supported on one end by the second planter body and on the other end by the third planter body.